India's Injury Scare For Lebanon Second Leg

[M|ch]

Nehru Cup hero N.Pappachan Pradeep might not participate in the crucial second leg 2010 World Cup qualifying match against Lebanon on October 28 in Chennai owing to a knee injury




India lost the first leg 4-1 on earlier in the week.
Speaking exclusively to Goal.com from his hometown Moolamatam in Kerala, the 24 year old said: "I am very much in pain. My knee is sore and has been a recurring problem ever since the Nehru Cup.”
A mistimed challenge by a Cambodian defender in the opening match of the Nehru Cup began Pradeep’s knee woes.
The Mahindra player will visit famous physiotherapist Dr.Anant Joshi on the 20th of this month in Mumbai.
“I will join the Indian camp on 16th and then come to Mumbai for a check-up”.
Pradeep blamed the first leg loss to a failure to score.
" We couldn’t convert our chances and so lost," he said”
He added that the Lebanese officials arranged the match to be played in another stadium than the one where Mahindra played Al Nejmeh in the AFC Cup quarterfinals last month.
“The ground was very soggy and we weren’t able to run fast. All the players were tired after the match.”